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This
itinerary is efficient,
showing you the top sights
of Turkey—Ephesus, Cappadocia and
Istanbul—in
only six
days of brisk but not mad-rush
travel.
The
secret: upon arrival in Turkey,
you fly directly to Izmir (for
Ephesus),
saving Istanbul until the end of
your itinerary, and you also save
time by taking an evening flight
to Cappadocia on
Day 2.
If
you live in the Western Hemisphere
or another place from which you must fly
overnight to get to Turkey, this
itinerary is actually eight days away
from home (six days in Turkey and
two flight days).
To
get the most out of your trip, you
may want to employ a recommended licensed
private guide,
at least for part of your trip.
TURKEY'S
TOP SIGHTS IN 6 DAYS
DAY
1 - Arrival & SELÇUK
(EPHESUS)
You
arrive in Turkey, probably flying
into Istanbul,
and change planes for your flight
to Izmir's Adnan
Menderes Airport (ADM). From
the airport you rent
a car, hire
a taxi, or arrange for a private
transfer to
get to Selçuk and
your hotel. (There are no
direct buses to Selçuk,
only to Izmir, and the trains are
infrequent, uncomfortable and
currently
unreliable,
although there may be much better
train service in a year or two).
Settle
into your hotel and enjoy the rest
of the day in this pleasant town
next to the Ephesus
archeological site.
If you arrive early enough, visit
the fine little Ephesus
Museum in the center of Selçuk,
or the nearby Basilica
of St. John, or take a taxi
to Pamucak
Beach. In the evening, have dinner
at a pleasant restaurant, perhaps
outdoors.
DAY
2 - EPHESUS & fly to Cappadocia
Get
up early to walk (30 minutes) or
ride (5 minutes) the 3 km (2 miles)
to the Ephesus
archeological site.
I
think these are the most impressive
classical ruins in the Mediterranean
region, and the morning,
before the crowds and the heat
arrive, is the best time to see
them. If
you like, take a taxi to the Virgin
Mary's House afterwards.
If
you haven't yet seen the Ephesus
Museum and the Basilica
of St John in Selçuk,
those are next. Then return to
Izmir's Adnan
Menderes Airport for your
flight to Kayseri,
for Cappadocia.
Take the Turkish
Airlines/Argeus shuttle bus from Kayseri's
Erkilet airport to Ürgüp, Göreme or
Uçhisar. It
will drop you at your
hotel.
DAY
3 - GÖREME VALLEY
If
you're up for it, rise at 5 am for
a hot-air
balloon flight over Cappadocia.
Otherwise, explore the "moonscape" of
Cappadocia starting with the painted
churches in the Göreme
Open-Air Museum. Get to the
museum at 09:00 am when it opens
to get a jump on the crowds and the
heat.
Spend
the rest of the day in the Zelve
Valley, and the pottery-making
center of Avanos.
After the heat abates, consider
a walk in the country, perhaps
in the Rose
Valley. For dinner, choose
a restaurant in Ürgüp or Goreme,
or take a taxi to Mustafapasa.
DAY
4 — UNDERGROUND CITY & fly
to Istanbul
If
you didn't get up in a balloon yesterday,
today's your second chance. After
you land, drive to Kaymakli or Derinkuyu to
visit either of these Underground
Cities. In the evening, fly
to Istanbul and
settle in at your hotel.
DAY
5 - ISTANBUL
Get
to Topkapi
Palace when it opens at 9 am
and go straight to the Harem to
be first in line for the tour, which
fills up early and often. Spend the
rest of the morning in the palace.
Then visit Hagia
Sophia (Aya Sofya) before
or after lunch, followed by the Blue
Mosque, the Hippodrome,
and Yerebatan,
the Sunken Palace cistern. For dinner,
choose one of Istanbul's
better restaurants.
DAY
6 - ISTANBUL
You
get to sleep in! Enjoy a late breakfast
on the rooftop terrace of your hotel
with a view of the sea (most hotels
have them), but take the tram to
the Eminönü ferry docks to arrive by 10 or 10:15 am to get
a seat on the Bosphorus
tour ferry. Spend the afternoon
shopping in the Grand
Bazaar or the Egyptian
Market. In the evening, enjoy
a Turkish
bath, or take a taxi to Beyoglu for
dinner and perhaps an evening in
one of the small cafes or music clubs.
DAY
7 - DEPARTURE
Catch
your onward or return flight.
If
you have a few more days, here are
two itineraries that take you from
Istanbul to Ephesus and Cappadocia,
and back to Istanbul, in only five
days:
5-Day
Driving Itinerary: Ephesus to Pamukkale,
Konya & Cappadocia
5-Day
Fly-Drive Itinerary: Ephesus, Pamukkale
& Cappadocia
Excursions from Istanbul
1
to 5 Days in Turkey
6
to 10 Days in Turkey
11
to 15 Days in Turkey
16
to 23 Days in Turkey
24
to 30+ Days in Turkey
Recommended Licensed
Private Guides
Recommended
Itineraries
Special
Interest Trips
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